Change-over switch for printed circuit board

Claim 1

A change-over switch for a printed circuit board comprising: a substrate of an insulating material on which a plurality of patterned electrical circuit elements are formed; a first electrically conductive support stud fixedly mounted on the substrate in electrical contact with a first of said circuit elements and having a portion extending in front of a first surface of the substrate; a switching member formed of an electrically conductive, resilient wire and comprising a torsion spring having at least one turn wound on said portion of the support stud; said resilient wire having a first extension therefrom which is formed from said torsion spring and which is formed as a first movable contact; said resilient wire having a second extension therefrom which is formed from said torsion spring and which is formed as a second movable contact; said first and second extensions of said torsion spring extending generally in the same direction and being biased by said torsion spring to move in opposite directions; a second electrically conductive stud fixedly mounted on the substrate in electrical contact with a second of said patterned circuit elements and having a first section extending in front of said first surface, said first section of said second conductive stud being formed as a first stationary contact and disposed intermediate the length of said first extension; said first extension of the switching member being normally resiliently biased by said torsion spring and said first stationary contact being located in the path of movement of said first extension under its bias; a third electrically conductive stud fixed to said substrate and in electrical contact with a third of said patterned circuit elements and having a second section extending in front of said first surface; said second section of said third conductive stud being formed as a second stationary contact and disposed intermediate the length of said second extension; said second extension of the switching member being normally resiliently biased by said torsion spring and said second stationary contact being located in the path of movement of said second extension under its bias; said first and second extensions being normally biased toward engagement with said second and third studs, respectively, and an operating member for engaging the end portion of each said extension at the end thereof away from said first stud and past its respective said stationary contact for constraining or permitting movement of each said extension under its said normal bias to selectively connect or disconnect each said extension with the respective said stationary contact; said extensions and said stationary contacts being so placed that as said operating member moves one said extension to constrain it and thereby disconnect that said extension from its said stationary contact, said operating member, combined with said torsion spring, urges and permits the other said extension to connect that other said extension with its said stationary contact; said operating member comprising a body of electrically insulating material which is movable generally parallel to and with respect to the first surface of the substrate for engaging said extensions; said operating member being provided with a switching piece to which force is applied for moving said body.